When the season started, the hopes and dreams of college basketball teams around the land did not rest with the Collegeinsider.com Tournament.

If you don't win a conference tournament and get an invitation to the NCAAs, and the NIT isn't interested, you either pack the basketballs away until October or take what is left.

The CIT was left for the University at Albany and the Great Danes gobbled up the chance to play some more this season. Or, at least coach Will Brown did.

Brown was more than happy to accept the call from the CIT and the Danes will play St. Peter's of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at 7 p.m. Thursday. This marks the sixth straight year UAlbany is playing in the postseason, the second time in the CIT.

UAlbany is still reeling from its 56-53 America East Conference loss at Vermont last Saturday. That game deprived the Danes the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years. Having to take part in the lesser tournament, the CIT, has taken some getting used to for the UAlbany players, who found out they would still be playing when the bid came out on Sunday.

When asked if he would have been disappointed if there had not been a CIT game, sophomore David Nichols said, "No."

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St. Peter's vs. UAlbany

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: SEFCU Arena, Albany

Radio: WTMM (104.5 FM)

Fellow sophomore Joe Cremo is still bitter about the Vermont loss. The ultra-competitive Scotia native was not doing a good job of hiding his sadness of being shut out of the NCAAs for the second time in his UAlbany career.

"Two years in a row we have missed our goal," Cremo said. "It's a pretty bad feeling two years in a row."

The main reason Cremo said the Danes are continuing to play is for the two seniors, Mike Rowley and Dallas Ennema. He wants them to be able to keep putting on the uniform as long as possible.

"Those guys have been great teammates," Cremo said. "I'm pretty (ticked) off and upset that we could not get (NCAAs) for them. I was hoping we could send them off on a good note. It didn't happen, so we have to live with it and move on."

Rowley and Ennema are grateful for the chance to prolong their careers, and they both think the Danes will play as hard as they can once they hit the SEFCU Arena floor. But they hurt just as much as their younger teammates do.

"If anyone is trying to pretend that they have moved on, or are 100 percent ready for this next game, they're lying to you," Ennema said. "The thing that will push us through this tournament is the fact we are playing for each other. I love these guys, and the university and coaches have done so much for me. Obviously, we want to be in another place. If (the season) would have been done, I would not have thrown a fit, but, now that we're playing, I'm not upset about that, either."

Brown, if given the chance, would likely choose to play games all season long. He always wants his teams to get better, and, with Cremo, Nichols and another sophomore, Devonte Campbell, making up the nucleus for next year, Brown relishes the extra time he gets to spend with them.

"When you get that close (Vermont game), every kid wants to play in the NCAA Tournament," Brown said. "They hear me talk of how hard it is to get there and you don't know if you will get the opportunity again. Our two best players (Nichols and Cremo) are our two best competitors, and they take these losses harder than anyone. Trying to get Joe and David to focus on the preparation and (the St. Peter's) game is something I have to do a good job with."

St. Peter's (19-13) hasn't played since losing to eventual MAAC champion Iona (73-65) in the league's semifinals at Times Union Center on March 5. Peacocks' coach John Dunne said he gave his players a couple days after that game to decide if they wanted to continue playing if the opportunity came. And here they are.

"It can go either way," Dunne said. "I would understand if it went more south, but it was not hard to motivate my guys. Most of these kids eat, drink and sleep basketball. We have had such a fun year, that they did not want to see it end. Even though they did not reach the ultimate goal, they were happy to be back in the gym together."